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Dear Friend,
Equality Virginia has been working tirelessly this legislative session to ensure the passage of two bills that will be transformative for positive school climates in the state:
- H.B. 536, which will adjust the definition of "bullying" in K-12 schools to explicitly protect against harassment on the basis of characteristics listed in the Virginia Human Rights Act, which includes sexual orientation and gender identity.
- H.B. 224, which would require school professionals in Virginia to receive mental health awareness training that addresses the needs of youth populations that are at a high risk of experiencing suicidal ideation and other mental health challenges, which include LGBTQI+ youth.
Decades of research and practice demonstrate that enumerating protected classes in anti-bullying policies improves school climates by raising awareness that students can report bullying and holding school staff and administrators accountable for fostering inclusive spaces. Suicide is the second leading cause of death among young people ages 10 to 14, and the third leading cause of death among 15-24 year olds in the United States, and we know that LGBTQ+ young people are significantly more likely to attempt suicide than their peers.
After powerful testimony from students, educators, and legislative champions, the bills made it through the General Assembly and Senate and to Governor Youngkin. Minutes before his deadline to act on the bills, Governor Youngkin sent them back to the legislature, striking the important provisions referencing LGBTQI+ students and other populations at high risk of bullying, harrassment, and suicide, for more vague and generic language. The Governor's proposed amendments undermine the core intent of the bills - to enumerate protections in anti-bullying and suicide prevention policies.
On Wednesday, the Virginia legislature reconvened to consider Gov. Youngkin’s amendments, and rejected them unanimously. They now return to Gov. Youngkin, and he has 30 days to sign, veto, or do nothing with the bills – which allows them to automatically go into effect. To prevent a veto, we need YOU as a Virginian to take the following actions and urge Gov. Youngkin to do what is right for LGBTQI+ students in Virginia’s schools:
- SEND AN EMAIL to Gov. Youngkin via this Action Alert!
- SIGN ON to this petition which will be delivered to Gov. Youngkin in the coming weeks!
With gratitude,
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